ITU Report Reveals AI Emissions Surge Amid Energy Demands

A report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) indicates that emissions from leading AI and cloud providers increased by up to 239% from 2020 levels, driven by soaring energy demands and infrastructure expansion. The report, part of the fifth edition of Greening Digital Companies, evaluates the climate performance of 200 digital companies using data from the 2024 reporting year.

Despite advancements in climate reporting and renewable energy use, digital companies are not reducing emissions at the necessary pace to meet global climate targets. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, stated that while digital technologies can aid climate action, their rising energy demands and emissions are concerning.

The report calls for priority actions, including enhancing climate reporting and aligning AI growth with clean energy investments. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, emphasized the ICT sector's potential to foster a sustainable digital future by implementing climate commitments.